BISP 8171 - Benazir Income Support Programme

What is 8171 BISP? Registration, Eligibility, and Payments

BISP (Benazir Income Support Programme) is Pakistan's national cash transfer programme for low income households, and 8171 is its official SMS and web "tracking" channel for eligibility and payment status.

BISP states that there is no fee for registration or survey, and official messages come only from 8171.

Helpline: 0800-26477

What is BISP 8171 (Benazir Ehsaas program)?

BISP 8171 is the public way to check a household's NSER based eligibility and payment status using the 8171 SMS code or the 8171 web portal.

BISP is the programme, while 8171 is the communication and "NSER check online" and status check channel used for beneficiary messaging and verification alerts.

Ehsaas is a broader social protection initiative that included programmes such as Emergency Cash, while BISP remains the core national cash transfer platform used for poor women and other targeted groups.

How to register for BISP?

BISP Registration Process

To register for BISP, complete the NSER survey at a BISP Tehsil Office registration center, then wait for the eligibility result sent from 8171.

To register for BISP, follow these 3 steps:

  1. Visit the nearest BISP Tehsil Office and ask for NSER registration or update at the registration center.
  2. Provide accurate household information, and provide an active mobile number for official SMS communication from 8171.
  3. Confirm the process is free and refuse any demand for money, forms, or paid "NADRA gov" verification services from agents.

Who are eligible for BISP?

BISP eligibility is determined from the NSER survey using a Proxy Means Test (PMT) poverty score, and the Pakistan Economic Survey reports a PMT cut off score of 32 for Benazir Kafaalat, with relaxation up to 37 for households with a differently able person.

Eligibility decisions commonly depend on these factors:

  • NSER record: a household must exist in the NSER database and pass the programme's PMT threshold.
  • PMT score rules: PMT is calculated on a 0 to 100 scale, and a lower score signals higher poverty.
  • NADRA dependency: a valid CNIC and correct identity record matter because BISP registration, selection, and payment verification use identity validation and biometric checks.

How to check status balance on SMS 8171?

Check BISP Status via SMS 8171

To check status balance on SMS 8171, send your 13 digit CNIC number by SMS to 8171 and read the reply for eligibility and payment status.

To check status balance on SMS 8171, use this exact method:

  1. Open the SMS app on your phone.
  2. Type your CNIC number without spaces or dashes.
  3. Send it to 8171.
  4. Save the reply message as your basic "tracking" record.

If any message comes from a different number, treat it as fraud and report it through the helpline or a Tehsil Office.

How to check balance online by CNIC?

To check balance online by CNIC, use the official 8171 web portal, enter CNIC, complete the captcha, then submit to view status.

To check balance online by CNIC:

  1. Open the official portal page.
  2. Enter CNIC number.
  3. Enter the captcha code shown in the image.
  4. Submit to view eligibility and payment "money check" status, and any tracking id shown on screen.

How to receive payments after registration?

BISP Payment Collection

To receive payments after registration, wait for the eligibility confirmation from 8171, then collect payments through the approved disbursement channel using biometric verification.

BISP's payment system uses biometric verification to reduce middleman fraud and confirm the right beneficiary receives the cash.

If biometric verification fails, official documents describe alternate payment handling through bank branches and biometric ATMs.

Is i need to verify though CNIC when taking payment?

Yes. Is i need to verify though CNIC when taking payment? CNIC identity and biometric verification are used to confirm the beneficiary during disbursement.

If CNIC data or biometric match fails, contact the Tehsil Office or call the toll free helpline to record the case.

What are the methods to withdraw payments?

To withdraw payments, use the BISP approved payment point where biometric verification is available, such as payment campsites or partner banking channels used for BISP disbursements.

If any deduction happens, register a complaint through the helpline or Tehsil Office.

What are the installment of payments?

BISP installments depend on the programme type, and Benazir Kafaalat is a quarterly cash transfer whose amount has changed over time based on government notifications.

The table below lists official examples of installment amounts reported in government sources, so readers can separate programme type from the amount.

Programme or period (example) Installment type Amount (PKR) Source
Benazir Kafaalat, Jan to Mar FY2023 Quarterly 8,500
Benazir Kafaalat, Apr to Jun FY2023 Quarterly 9,000
Benazir Kafaalat, from Jan 2025 Quarterly 13,500 Radio Pakistan
Ehsaas Emergency Cash, 2020 launch One time grant (programme specific) 12,000 Pass
Benazir Taleemi Wazaif, Secondary level (example rate) Stipend (level based) 2,500 BISP

What is the difference between BSIP program & Ehsaas program?

BISP is a cash transfer institution and programme set, while Ehsaas was a wider poverty alleviation initiative that included programmes such as Emergency Cash delivered using government social protection systems.

In practical terms, the 8171 checking habit stays the same, but eligibility and amounts change by programme and time period.

What is the purpose of BSIP?

The purpose of BISP is to provide targeted cash support to poor women and reduce extreme and chronic poverty, with policy objectives tied to poverty reduction and women empowerment.

What is the procces of BISP verification? Step by Step

BISP verification is the identity and eligibility confirmation process that links NSER data, CNIC identity, and biometric checks to stop fraud and confirm the right beneficiary.

To complete BISP verification, follow these steps:

  1. Check eligibility through 8171 SMS or the 8171 portal.
  2. Visit the payment point only after an official message from 8171.
  3. Verify identity through biometric verification at disbursement.
  4. Report deductions or fraud attempts through the toll free helpline 0800 26477 or Tehsil Office.

What are the other programs by CM Punjab?

Benazir Kafaalat, Benazir Taleemi Wazaif, and Benazir Nashonuma are BISP linked programmes, not CM Punjab programmes.

Punjab runs provincial schemes separately from BISP, so eligibility checks and payment channels differ by department and notification.

Was the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) active in 2021, 2022, or 2023?

Yes. Was the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) active in 2021, 2022, or 2023? Pakistan's Economic Survey 2022–23 reports BISP disbursements and beneficiary counts during FY2023, which confirms active operations during that period.

What to do when offical web Portal not working?

To do what to do when offical web Portal not working, use SMS 8171 for status checks, then use the helpline or Tehsil Office for case handling.

To handle a portal outage:

  1. Send CNIC to 8171 for the status reply.
  2. Call 0800 26477 for complaint or guidance.
  3. Visit the nearest BISP Tehsil Office for NSER update or verification support.

A broken portal is annoying, but it is still better than trusting a fake website that asks for "fees" and then vanishes faster than tea at a dhaba.

What is the 7181?

7181 is not the official BISP SMS code, because official BISP messages come only from 8171 and BISP warns that messages from other numbers are fraudulent.

8171 BISP Full Form

BISP stands for Benazir Income Support Programme. It is Pakistan's flagship social safety net initiative named after former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

The number 8171 is the official SMS short code used by BISP for:

  • Eligibility checks: Send your CNIC to 8171 to verify if you qualify for BISP benefits.
  • Payment status: Receive updates about your payment disbursement through 8171.
  • Official communications: All authentic BISP messages come from this number only.
Important Information

8171 is not an acronym - it is simply a numerical short code assigned by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) for BISP communications. Always verify that messages come from 8171 only.

MS
Researched & Generated by

Muhammad Saad

BISP Information Researcher & Generator

I research and generate fact-based, accurate information about Pakistan's social protection programmes. Every article is sourced from official government sources including BISP press releases, Economic Survey reports, and National Assembly records. My goal is to provide clear, trustworthy guidance that helps families understand their rights and navigate the system without falling for scams.

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